USA, (The Express) December 01, 2001 - PRESSURE for an end tocontroversial large-scale trials of GM crops intensified yesterday afterclaims that a field of GM "weeds" had been discovered.The oilseed rape covering at least 15 acres was found at a site usedearlier this year in one of the Government's GM trials.The programme is designed to test the environmental impact of the powerfulherbicides used with modified crops.The plants, in a field near Grantham, Lincolnshire, may have grown fromseeds spilled when the crop was harvested - and a large proportion are nowin flower thanks to a mild autumn.This has fuelled fears that they could cross-pollinate with andcontaminate nearby conventional oilseed rape and wild relatives.The Government last night ordered an inquiry into the claims. Unwanted GMplants would have to be destroyed.Campaigners Friends of the Earth yesterday called on the Government toprosecute the biotech company involved, Aventis.FoE spokesman Pete Riley said: "The biotech industry has gone too far, toofast and is now out of control."It's time the Government said enough is enough and called an immediatehalt to this dangerous experiment."Aventis last night insisted it had done nothing wrong. A spokesman said itwas allowed "to encourage any seeds dropped to germinate so we can go inlater and destroy them" .